This Rare Hermès Mini Kelly Could Fetch Up to $200,000 at Auction


Forget the Birkin. One of the most coveted Kellys in the Hermès collection could now be yours.

The Mini Kelly in question, which is part of Christie’s Handbags Online: The New York Edit auction, features an exterior made of sterling silver instead of the French house’s signature supple leather. As a result, it is considered one of the most difficult variations to acquire.

Hermès released the Kelly back in 1935. Since then, the iconic design has been reimagined multiple times and remains a go-to accessory for A-listers. The sterling silver Mini Kelly is from the ’90s but is enjoying a renaissance as celebs revisit many of the era’s fashion trends. In September, Kylie Jenner paired hers with a vintage Maison Margiela look to attend Beyoncé’s concert in Inglewood, California.

A Sterling Silver Kelly has not been seen at a Christie’s auction since 2016. As such, the lot is expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000.

Hermès Sterling Silver Kelly handbag

Hermès Sterling Silver Kelly

Christie’s

The online sale, running now until December 12, includes other rare pieces by the likes of Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and, of course, Hermès. The auction is also offering a variety of handbags for men, including the Rock Birkin. For the unversed, this design was the first in the popular Hermès series to be made specifically for gents. It pairs the classic Birkin silhouette with the rugged, edgy details of a leather biker jacket. The 40 cm example on offer is expected to hammer down for between $40,000 and $60,000.

Other highlights include a Kelly 25 Porosus Crocodile Sellier with 18-karat white gold & diamond hardware (estimate: $150,000 to 200,000), a Birkin 20 Matte Alligator with palladium hardware (estimate: $120,000 to $180,000), and a Kelly 35 Himalaya Crocodile with palladium hardware (estimate: $100,000 to $150,000). 

Hermes and Chanel lots featured in Christie's Handbags Online: The New York Edit auction

Two exceptional lots by Hermes (left) and Chanel (right) featured in the sale.

Christie’s

If bags don’t float your boat, there is plenty of jewelry up for grabs, too. Notably, a dazzling Chanel choker from the early 1980s (estimate: $2,000 to $3,000). The Handbags Online: The New York Edit features some 270 lots, in fact. That’s your holiday shopping sorted, then.


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